Pyrotechnical composition



I Fatenteel bios. 3, E31

- iii F.

arncrarxrr 00., me, or 1 new I y E1 Drawing.

lhis invention relates, generally, to pyrotechnical compositions; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to an improved non-detonating pyrotechmcal or firework 5 com osition of the so called snake variety. eretofore, firework compositions of the snake variety have commonly contained picric acid as an essential ingredient. Owing to the strong tendency of picric acid to discolor objects in addition to its poisonous nature, firework compositions employing this acid are difficult to manufacture and pack for shipment due to the deleterious action of V the acid on em loyees handling the firework w composition. uch firework compositions are especially objectionable in use s1nce children and others usin the same get their hands and clothes bad y discolored and also because of the poisonous nature of the picric at acid constituent. Other firework com ositions of the above character which have een used employ poisonous mercury as an essential ingredient, thereby rendering the firework dangerous in use. 95 The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel firework composition of the snake variety that eliminates the use of picric acid and mercury and em- 'ploys only such harmless constituents which when combined, in the proper proportions hereinafter stated, produce a harmlws fire- I work which will not discolor the hands or clothes and which does not have the poisonous characteristics common -to fireworks of the snake variety.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a firework composition of the above character that is non-hygroscopic,

. which remains stable indefinitely, is readily ignited in use and which produces an excellent snake formation; and to this end use is made of nitrated coal tar naphthol pitch to provide the enveloping body for the firework, tetryl is employed for producing the necessary gas i-. OE BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY, amea'oa TO HEIGHTS, NEW JEY, A OOEPORATION OI PYROTECHNIGAL COMPOSITION Application filed December 14, 1929. Serial K0. 414,280.

for expanding the envelo ing body, and nitro-cellulose is used for ai 'ng and distributing the combustion throughout the mass of the firework. Tetryl, as the active gas producing agent, is especially important in forming the firework composition since this substance produces heat and gas at the relatively slow desired rate for accomplishing the purposes of the firework. Also, suitable lubricators in the form of either graphite or as stearic acid or both are included in the composition to facilitate its compression in and removal from molds, whereby firework buttons or tablets are produced for use.

In making up the novel firework composim tion of this invention, linseed oil is added to a coal tar pitch lmown in the trade as naphthol pitch and nitric acid is then added to this mixture causing a vigorous'reaction. Fish oil or other suitable 011 may be used in lieu as of" linseed oil in carrying out this reaction but the use of such an oil is essential to carry on the nitration of the naphthol pitch. The resulting porous pitch mass is allowed to dry and provides a nitrated naphthol pitch which to is then granulated or ground to small particles whereupon the remaining ingredients consisting of tetryl, a lubricant such as stearic acid or graphite or both, and finally nitrocellulose are added and the resulting composition compressed into small buttons or pellets for use.

As an example of the composition of this invention, the ingredients are mixed togather in the following proportions by weight:

mm Naphthol pitch (beta) .4 300 Linseed oil (raw) Nitric acid (commercial) 250 Tetryl- Stearic acid V Graphite Nitro-cellulose composition is as iollowsi n nfty ounces u ceased, the resulting mass of material a used in the form of small half ounce of powdered stearlc acid and one-' nitro-cellulose in its common driv) 6 into a unitar The preferred manner of preparing the Three hundred ounces of coal tar' naphthol pitch preferably of the beta variety in fine 5 granular form is placed in a crock or other suitable container and sixty ounces of raw linseed oil is then ured over this granular naphtha! pitch. e linseed oil films over the naphthol pitch anules. Two hundred and nitric acid, preferably of ordmerycommercial strength, is then added to the mixture in the crock and a vigorous reaction thereupon takes lace with the liberation of heat. During t 's reaction, which lasts about ten minutes, the contents of the crock are stirred continuously, thereby libcrating the 'fumes formed during the reaction, such fumes, so far as is now known, carrying off the oil. After the reaction has rovides the nitrated naphthol itch, which is an essential ingredient of the al composition. This nitrated naphthol pitch is allowed to dry at ordinary temperatures, which usually takes a from one to two days; after which the dried mass of naphthol pitch is ground to small particles or anules. To this resultant granslur mass 0 nitrated naphtol pitch is added ens-hundred ounces of tetryl, which is also anules. Onehalf ounce of powdered graphite, being the prefermd form of lubricator agent, is thereupon added. Finally, twenty ounces of flufl'y form is added and the several su stances are thoroughly mixed together as by stirring. The resulting composition is then compressed in molds to combine the several ingredients mass and to produce small buttons or pe ets ready for use. The stcaric acid and the graphite assist atly in the molding process by serving as ubricants for the several constituents of the firework com- 5 position as well as by lubricatin the relativel movable parts of the mold, t ereby reventlng the breaking of the buttons or pe lets while being removed .from the mold.

The firework composition thus produced 3* has the form of a relatively hard dense mass which does not tend to crumble and is nonhygroscopic, is stableand keeps well under variations of climatic or weather conditions, is not subject to spontaneous combustion and 5 in use is readily ignited to produce an exceptionally profuse and lengthy snake of unitorm diameter and density and of highly attractive and amusin qualities,

The nitrate/d napht ol pitch provides the expansible body of the firework, tetryl, as the active agent, provides the expanding gases together with a certain amount of heat, nitrocellulose distributes and enhances the burning, and the stearic acid and graphite serve as lubricants in forming the firework buttons other constituents t accuses and the former also by burning serving as an aid in distributin the combustion.

While in the a ove illustrative table there combustion of the com osition and hence the rate at which the sue a is formed will be slower than before; while, on the other hand, by decreasing the relative proportions of the nitrated naphthol pitch while keeping the a e same, the rate of combustion of the composition will be increased though a shorter snake will be produced.

Also by varying the tetryl ingredient the rapidity with which the snake is formed will be correspondingly varied. Varying of the nitro-cellulose ingredient varies the uniformity and rapidity of the burning, i. e. by

increasin the relative proportion of this inedient he burning is more re id and uniorm while lessening this in 'ent has the reverse eflect.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A firework composition of the class described comprising, nitrated naphthol pitch togelliher with tetryl, the nitrated nap thol itc ible ody and the tetryl providing gases for expanding said bod a 2. A firework composltion of the class described comprising, an expansible body consisting of nitrated naphthol pitch together with tetryl as an active agent and nitro-cellulose as a heat dispersive agent.

3. A firework composition of the class described comprising. an expansible body consisting of nitrated naphthol pitch, tetryl as an active gas producing agent, and a lubricant.

4. A firework composition of the class described comprising, an cxpansible body consisting of nitrated naphthol pitch, tetryl as an active gas producing agent, nitro-cellulose and a lubricant.

' 5. A firework composition of the class described comprising, an expansible body consisting of nitrated napht-hol pitch, tetryl as an active gas producing agent, nitro-cellulose as a heat dispersive agent and graphite.

6. A firework composition of the class described comprising, an expansible body consisting of nitrated naphthol pitch, tetryl as an active gas producing agent, nitro-cellulose as a heat dispersive agent and stearic acid.

7. A firework composition of the class described comprising, an expansible body consisting of nitrated naphthol pitch, tetryl as an rovidin in use an envelo in e an- I active gas producin agent, nitro-cellulose,

stearic acid and ap to.

8. A composition for productlon of a fire work of the class described comprising the 5 herein named ingredients in the approximate proportions by weight as follows Part! Naphthol Yitch (beta) 300 Linseed oi (raw) 60 Nitric acid (commercial) 250 Tetryl 100 Stearic acid 1/ Graphite ,5

15 Nitro-cellulose 20 20 1AM F. GEHBIG. 

